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06/16 20:40 CDT Mead's 3-run HR, Nuez's big night lift the Nationals to a 6-4
victory over the Royals
Mead's 3-run HR, Nuez's big night lift the Nationals to a 6-4 victory over the
Royals
By NOAH TRISTER
AP Baseball Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) --- Curtis Mead hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the bottom
of the seventh inning to lift the Washington Nationals to a 6-4 win over the
Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
Nasim Nuez tripled twice and scored three times for the Nationals, who will go
for a three-game sweep Wednesday after handing Kansas City its sixth loss in
seven games. The Royals are a season-high 16 games under .500.
Paxton Schultz (1-2) got the win in relief, and Gus Varland pitched the ninth
--- allowing a solo homer by ex-National Lane Thomas --- for his sixth save.
Daniel Lynch IV (2-1) took the loss.
Nationals starter Foster Griffin allowed a run and six hits in six innings with
two walks and six strikeouts. A first-round draft pick of Kansas City's a dozen
years ago, Griffin has allowed one run or fewer in four of his last five
outings.
But Isaac Collins tied it at 3 for the Royals with a two-run single in the
seventh. The Nats answered immediately. Nuez drew a leadoff walk and then
hustled to beat shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to second base, turning James Wood's
roller up the middle from a double play into a regular 6-3 grounder.
After Nuez stole third without a throw, pinch-hitter Andrs Chaparro drew a
walk and Mead sent a drive to left-center field for his 11th homer of the
season.
The Royals are a major league-worst 3-17 in 20 games this year against
left-handed starters.
Michael Wacha allowed three runs in six innings for Kansas City's 35th quality
start of the season. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers have more, but Kansas City is
just 19-16 in those games.
Nuez opened the scoring with an RBI triple in the third, then scored on Wood's
sacrifice fly. After Witt singled home a run for the Royals in the fifth, Nuez
led off the bottom half with another three-base hit. Wood again brought him
home, this time with a single.
Nuez pulled even with Witt for the major league lead with 26 stolen bases. The
Washington second baseman also made a diving catch of Tyler Tolbert's flare to
shallow right field in the second.
The banged-up Royals removed third baseman Maikel Garcia from the game in the
sixth because of left hand soreness.
Up next The Nationals send Zack Littell (6-5, 5.32 ERA) to the mound against Kansas City's Luinder Avila (1-3, 6.19) on Wednesday. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Up next The Nationals send Zack Littell (6-5, 5.32 ERA) to the mound against Kansas City's Luinder Avila (1-3, 6.19) on Wednesday. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
